Woman shot dead by estranged husband at work

Tuesday

Sep 29, 2009 at 1:39 PMSep 29, 2009 at 8:53 PM

Police said Marta Torres had fled Fort Myers and was hiding out with her five children in Ocala before her husband tracked her down and shot her dead. The boys, ages 6 to 13, are in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

Marta Torres was afraid of her husband, so much so that she moved from her home in Fort Myers to hide out with a friend in Ocala.

But Elliott Torres found her, Marta told Ocala police on Aug. 23 when she stopped at the police department to alert them that she might be in danger.

On Tuesday, police say, Elliott Torres confronted his estranged wife at her workplace in northeast Ocala, shot her to death and then turned the gun on himself.

According to investigators, Marta was working at Davis Supply, Inc, 2300 N.E. 8th Road, when Elliott Torres approached her in the driveway and talked to her briefly about reconciling their broken relationship.

Moments later, he began blasting away with a 12-gauge shotgun. Marta Torres was struck at least twice and died before Elliott Torres put the gun to his own head and pulled the trigger.

Adam Judy, who works nearby at CMI Direct Marketing, said he was outside when he heard a gunshot, followed by a woman screaming, “No!”

He said he heard another shot, followed by the same voice, “yelling and screaming.”

Judy said he heard a third shot, then a fourth, then silence.

He said as he was driving past the area on his way to lunch, he saw what appeared to be the body of a man lying in the driveway at the business.

Marta and Elliott Torres leave behind five boys ranging in age from six to 13. The children are in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Marta Torres’ report to Ocala police on Aug. 23 paints a portrait of a woman who was on the run from an abusive relationship and still feared for her life.

Torres’ friend told an officer that the 40-year-old woman, who had previously lived in Fort Myers, was staying with her at her Northeast 19th Avenue home to get away from her husband.

Marta Torres told the officer she left Fort Myers after her husband was Baker Acted by the Fort Myers Police Department for threatening to kill himself. Under the Baker Act, authorities are permitted to take someone into custody for psychiatric evaluation if they believe the person is a threat to himself or someone else.

Marta Torres said Elliott had been violent with her before and had threatened to kill her, and she told the officer those threats were documented by the Fort Myers Police Department. Elliott Torres was prohibited by court injunction from going near his wife, police said,

But a friend, according to the Aug. 23 police report, had told Elliott Torres he could find his wife in Ocala.

Marta told the officer she was afraid of her husband but just wanted her concern documented in case Elliott Torres showed up.

The officer reportedly told Marta and her friend that officers would keep an eye on the home and that police would look out for her husband’s yellow HumVee.

In the meantime, the officer told them if they had any indication that Elliot Torres was in Ocala and he came to the residence, they should immediately contact the police.